Consumer Credit Counselling Agencies

Consumer credit counselling agencies provide advice and support to individuals who are reeling
under a staggering debt burden and are unable to service their existing debts. Agencies which provide this service
can be free non-profit arms of charitable trusts or agencies which provide their services for a certain fee. There
are regulations and laws which monitor, control and regulate the workings of such consumer credit counselling
agencies.

In addition to providing debt counselling, consumer credit counselling agencies also provide general money &
budgeting advice among other things. Services can be provided on-line or through personal face-to-face
consultations or through telephone consultations on toll-free numbers.

The modus operandi of a consumer credit counselling agency will follow a certain sequence - conduct a full
review of your financial situation - income, repayments, loan commitments and other obligations - and provide
recommendations on how better to manage your financial commitments.

Most consumer credit counselling plans involve identifying basic and essential expenses for living and priority
debts such as housing and vehicle loans where assets are involved. For the remaining debts, the consumer credit
counselling agency will approach the remaining creditors on your behalf and negotiate. Terms offered can include
freezing interest on outstanding debts, removing penal charges, increase repayment periods or reduce the principal
outstanding.

How to pick the right consumer credit counselling agency
It is not necessary to sign on with a consumer credit counselling agency that works for a fee. There are several
other ways you can find the right agency to match your needs. Some of the easier and simpler methods to pick a
consumer credit counselling agency that is right for you are listed below:

Anyone in your circle of family or friends may have used a consumer credit counselling agency in the past
and can offer the best references and feedback on the services they've utilized.

Many employers have employee counselling programmes at the workplace. If you work in any such company you
can approach the counsellors in the programme for free financial and debt management advice.

Citizens Advice bureaus are spread all over the UK and have toll-free help-lines where you can get free
advice on debt management.

Search the internet and business directories for a consumer credit counselling agency that is a non-profit
organisation and which has a proven track-record in offering credit advice and counselling services.

Make sure that the consumer credit counselling agency you pick is licensed to operate as per guidelines and
regulations set out by the Office of Fair Trade (OFT).

Check on the experience and training of counsellors at the consumer credit counselling agency you enrol at.
Pick an organisation where the counsellors have certified and proven training and expertise and have a good
reputation in the market, and are favoured by credit providing institutions with which they have a good
standing.

A good consumer credit counselling agency will not focus
solely on providing debt management solutions; they are also capable of providing general budgeting and
financial advice even to those who have no debt problems, but are only looking for some good advice on proper
management of finances.

Above all, beware of consumer credit counselling agencies who solicit fees, even before
providing any basic advice or even just meeting up with you to note down your requirements.

Credit in MinutesTip #1

Stay on top of your credit report. Most credit reports contain errors. Make sure you check your credit report
every year (you get one free credit report every twelve months) and if there are errors make sure to challenge them
with the reporting credit agency. Credit agencies are required to investigate each and every challenge that gets
reported.

Credit in MinutesTip
#2

Just because you qualify for all of those credit cards does not mean you should get them. A person with too many
credit cards looks sketchy in the eyes of a potential creditor. Think of it this way: if a person is financially
stable does he or she need ten different credit cards? Wouldn’t just one or two suffice?

Credit in MinutesTip
#3

The best way to raise your credit score is to make all of your payments on time. It sounds too simple to be
true, but that’s all there really is to it. Staying out of debt and/or making all of your debt payments on time
will keep your score up where it should be.